BRONX, NEW YORK -- Calvary Hospital recently honored Michael Cashin (Bronx) and Lucy Tedesco (Nassau County) with the 2013 Annual Meviar Smith Humanitarian Award. The award, which has been bestowed since 1988, was created to honor the memory of 28-year Calvary veteran, Meviar Smith. Until her death in 1987, Meviar was famous for her loyalty, conscientious work ethic, and dedication to the patients at Calvary Hospital. This year’s selection committee felt that Michael and Lucy best demonstrated the qualities for which Meviar was known.

Michael Cashin Michael was born in the Bronx and has resided here his entire life. He completed public school and vocational training and volunteered at Jacobi Medical Center for a year before coming to Calvary Hospital.

Michael started in the Housekeeping Department at Calvary in 1978 a few weeks before the new building opened and helped prepare the rooms for the arrival of the first patients. Michael’s dedication and heartwarming smile is a reminder to everyone to not let anything get in the way of performing your job with enthusiasm and optimism. Michael resides in the Pelham Bay section of the Bronx with his brother Bob and has recently taken up golf as a hobby.

Lucy Tedesco Lucy was born and raised in the Bronx and has resided in Long Island since 1990. Lucy first joined Calvary Hospital in 1972 and Meviar Smith was one of her instructors. Lucy left Calvary for one year in 1985 and returned in 1986. In total, Lucy has been with Calvary for 41 years.

Lucy enjoys sharing her stories and the history of Calvary to the delight of the listener. She is known for welcoming patients, family members and visitors with open arms. She has been a Cancer Care Technician (CCT-II) for 13 years, and worked in the Brooklyn campus for 8 years. Lucy has one daughter, 3 grand children and 1 great grandchild.

Calvary Hospital is the nation’s only fully accredited acute care specialty hospital devoted exclusively to providing palliative care to adult advanced cancer patients. A 225-bed facility with locations in the Bronx and Brooklyn, Calvary is the model for the relief of cancer pain and symptoms for more than a century. More than 6,000 patients are cared for annually by Calvary’s inpatient, outpatient, home, hospice, nursing home hospice, and wound care services. To learn more or sign up for the e-newsletter, Calvary Life, please go to www.calvaryhospital.org.